OSHKOSH NORTH 57, HAMILTON 56
Top-seeded Oshkosh North (26-1) hung on to defeat Hamilton 57-56 in the Division 1 semifinals of the State Boys Basketball Tournament Friday evening at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
When it appeared the Spartans would cruise to the victory with a 33-16 halftime lead, Hamilton got back in the game with three straight three-pointers by Carson Smith to narrow their deficit to five at 37-32 with 14:48 remaining in the game.
A three-pointer by Tanner Resch with 1:13 remaining tied the game at 56-56. The Spartans’ Tyrese Haliburton provided the margin of victory by converting one-of-two free throws with 19 seconds remaining. Hamilton had a chance to win the game with a 28-footer by Smith with two seconds on the clock, but the shot hit the front and back of the rim before caroming off.
Quincy Anderson led all scorers with 26 points for the Spartans to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Haliburton contributed with 12 points and seven assists, and Matt Hickey added 10 points.
The Chargers were led in scoring by Patrick Baldwin Jr. with 22 points. Resch was 5-of-6 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from beyond for 13 points, and Smith chipped in with 11.
The Spartans will play in the State championship game for the first time in their seven State appearances, and Hamilton 17-10 finishes the season with its sixth experience in the State tournament.
BROOKFIELD EAST 52, SUN PRAIRIE 50 (OT)
Third-seeded Brookfield East (25-2) advanced to the championship game in Division 1 with a thrilling 52-50 overtime victory over Sun Prairie in the Division 1 semifinals at the Kohl Center Friday evening.
Patrick Cartier hit a half hook against a double team in the final seconds of overtime to give the Spartans the victory. Cartier’s heroics was set-up with a steal by Sam McGath with three seconds remaining. Sun Prairie had a chance to win the game in the last seconds of regulation, but a fade-away jumper from the free throw line failed to draw iron.
The Spartans shot 53 percent from the field in the game, including 50 percent from the three-point arc. Cartier scored a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds and six blocked shots. Hayden Doyle also scored in double figures with 11 points, and Michael Poker added nine points and four assists.
The Cardinals were led in scoring by Marlon Ruffin with 13 points. Jalen Johnson added 10 points and dished out a game-high five assists.
Brookfield East will play in the State championship game for the first time in its four State appearances, and Sun Prairie (25-2) ends its season at the State tournament in the school’s first-ever experience.